Navigation

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

CLOSED -- Generalist & YA/MG Interns needed!

We are looking for a Generalist and a Young Adult/Middle Grade fiction intern. You do not need to have any kind of publishing experience, but you should love to read and be familiar with all sorts of fiction in these categories, particularly with Generalist or Young Adult and MG books on the New York Times bestseller list.

Additionally, for Generalist readers, we’re looking for someone who enjoys books by authors such as:

- Erin Morgenstern

- Tana French

- Eleanor Brown

- Jacqueline Sheehan

- Jodi Picoult

- Gillian Flynn

- Lori Roy

- Laurie Notaro

- Celia Rivenbark

- Elin Hilderbrand

- Kristin Hannah

- Jeannette Walls

- Kate Atkinson

This is an eclectic list, so obviously you don't need to like everyone on it. But basically, you should like at least two of the following genres: humor, memoir, upmarket women's fiction and literary suspense.

You do not need to live in New York—this is a remote internship. We ask for a ten-hours-a-week commitment. Please note that it is unpaid.

The internship is a great way to learn more about an agent’s work and decision-making process. Past interns have been writers for children, children’s librarians, elementary school teachers, MFA students, and passionate readers.

The agency runs a monthly educational chat for all of our interns, led by a different agent/on a different topic each time. (Past and upcoming topics include: How publishers create marketing plans, Do we need literary agents anymore?, Digital and social publishing, Literary scouts: What do they do? What are the entry-level jobs in publishing? -- we try to make them as useful as we can.) These are optional, and the days/times vary because all the interns have different 'day job' schedules.

Interested?

1. Send an email to intern@thebentagency.com and put “Generalist intern” or "YA/MG intern" in the subject line. If you’d like to read for both, put “Generalist/YA/MG intern” in the subject line.

2. Tell us why you want the internship and something about yourself, or include a resume if you have one (although it's not necessary).

3. Include two lists: the last ten Generalist or YA/MG books you've read and your top ten favorite Generalist or YA/MG books of all time.

If you've applied in the past, you're welcome to apply again. We usually get a great many applicants and the application period will close fairly quickly; watch this space for details!

UPDATE on July 19th: Applications for this internship are now closed. Thank you so much to all who applied, I'll answer you shortly! -- John